So far President Thein Sein keeps his promises. He said through his special envoy to Aung San Suu Kyi,  Aung Kyi ” We don’t Jump, but we walk step by step carefully”.

Exactly, he walked step by step slowly, so slow that it has raised the alarm bells of 55 Million Myanmar People and its observers to become nervous.

President Thein Sein seemed to be crushing his credibility by himself. All Myanmar nationals applauded him when he posed photo with Aung San Suu Kyi in front of her late father General Aung San. Then, all of a sudden he became a savior when ordered to stop the controversial   Myit Sone dam project. Myanmar people are very tolerant and forgiving. Thank you “Thamadagyi” (President) was uttered by million of Myanmar, both online and offline.

Then, momentum of hope is building up, to free the all political prisoners and also to gain the permanent cease fire with all the ethnics groups who were fighting for their rights for more than half a Century.

Well known Comedian Zarganar was released, Hilary Clinton paid a visit where President Thein Sein said he want to keep water during rainy season.

I hope that is not the political prisoners that he wanted to keep during the fight for freedom ” rainy season”.

I, as an ordinary citizen, feel like day dreaming, seeing Daw Aung San Suu Kyi giving speeches in many occasions, while all of us are also moving step by step as though we all obeyed President Thein Sein’s order.

I am afraid that after many amnesties,those who are going to be remaining behind the bars will be only the “Prisoners of Conscious”. Why allowing corrupt officials, and criminals who served lighter sentence would be praising President for his kindness and  wonderful vision.

Myanmar is now ovder the cross road that is only one way without way to return. It is exciting and nerve wrenching for all of us to keeping focus on our visions under the leadership of our mother Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, if she walks fast we will walk fast, if she decide to run we all will run, …to our common destiny. But President U Thein Sein may be not able to run because of the invisible chained around his legs. In that case I feel genuinely sorry for him.

Sitmone

The jokes made by comedians during the latest show of  “Forever Rose” were become joke of all Burmese.

One of the comedian joked about Burma being a special country of the earth for Aliens. The reason he said was when  all the countries were visible to Aliens as their skylines were brightly illuminated while Burma was in darkness due to insufficient  electricity.

It was a joke, but a true joke. Look at the following you tube video which shows Burma in darkness compared to brightly lit night of Singapore, Bangkok, and Kuala Lumpur.

Sit Mone

“I’ve never said I want them to be brought into the international court,” she said. “I don’t think there is any solid reason for the generals to fear for their safety. We are not after them personally. I certainly do not wish them ill.”

The excerpts of interview;

She said her use of the term “revolution” was justified because, “I think of evolution as imperceptible change, very, very slowly, and I think of revolution as significant change. I say this because we are in need of significant change.”

The change she had in mind, she said, was “a change for the better from the point of view of human rights and democratic institutions.”

But she said that unlike some of her supporters in the West, she did not see regime change as a goal. “What we want is value change,” she said. “Regime change can be temporary, but value change is a long-term business. We want the values in our country to be changed. We want a sound foundation for change.

“Even if there’s regime change, if these basic values have not changed, then one regime change can lead to another regime change and so on and so on.”

I fully support her statement as a Burmese citizen who love to see the suffering of our people  end forever.But as she rightly pointed out the fact that even there is the change of regime, the people will be the same as quite a significant number of Burmese, doing party politics( both inside and outside of the country) are also corrupt, and shifting alliance with political climate.

We have seen this during 1988 uprising. Most of the fence sitters aligned with pro democracy movement,  when they sensed the wind of victory on the people’s side. After Military coup, the same people went back to the same totalitarian system that lasted another 22 years without change.

Having said that, I am not proposing innocence of Army Generals here, but by looking at  stagnation of politics in Burma, only way to proceed is nothing but national reconciliation with all parties concerned.

The best thing for all of us to me as ordinary citizen, is to listen what she says, and to support what she propose.Of course, she will propose something only after careful discussion with sincere leaders of Burma. Don’t ask me who are they? She knows who are the sincere people and who are hypocrites very well.

I always remember a friend of mine living in Burma once bitterly said, ” It is easy for all of you to ask us to do this do that from the place of comfort.But for us first thing come to our mind  in the morning is how to survive that day..”

As She said evolution is slow and revolution is fast and significant. But revolution without lost of live is possible only under the leadership of Aung San suu Kyi, for the good sake of those suffering social injustice for  five decades.

Sit Mone

Most of the Burmese living in ASEAN countries faced discrimination. Well, the clocks inside the country stopped for many decades compare to the countries boasted to be Tigers of Asia. To me they are real Tigers that consume the rights of Burmese people by helping the unjust regime of Burma to stay in power forever.

Once upon a time, my passport was thrown back to me by an Immigration officer at Don Maung International airport, in front of curious travelers who even do not need a visa to a country famous for hospitality in South East Asia. Only reason I could think of that time was it was probably due to the bad things done by Burmese Kings to Thai people a few centuries ago. It was more than two decades ago, the time when there were very few Burmese travels out of the country’s self isolation.

Now, there are Millions of Burmese migrant workers in Thailand and Malaysia, and many white collar migrants in tiny island, Singapore. Whether a person is blue collar or white collar worker, being a Burmese Citizen in neighboring countries, means many of them are going to live without their due rights. One of the reasons could be increase competition in crowded labor markets for cheap workers. But, for many of  them once identified as “Myanmar national” exposed all the ways to abuse and extort by corrupt authorities of the many host countries as well as some of  its people.

Most of the ASEAN countries never practice sincere foreign policy for Burmese people. While Chinese’ silent invasion to Burma is unfolding in front of all ASEAN countries, it is not wrong to liken the situation similar to a wounded elephant surrounded by wolves.

While the West absorb few thousands refugees of Burma where some of them enjoy the fundamental human rights, hundred thousands of Burmese living in neighboring  countries are being abused of their rights more or less same as their counterparts living inside Burma. Only difference for migrant workers is their earning power, which may be higher up to ten folds than those who are living inside the country.

No news is good news for a Burmese. All the head line news in last few decades was bad, although some inspire hope for a short period and faded away faster than sunset.

But Burmese people do not lose hope on one person. She is Aung San Suu Kyi. She is also a beacon of hope for fifty five million people living inside the world biggest jail, Burma.

Without the knowledge of the people of free world, Burmese people keep up their resistance quietly. Burmese people find truth, sincerity, and honesty in this lady. Old and young, educated and uneducated, people of all walks of life love her and support her. Their trust, the trust of fifty-five Million souls is with her. People are ready to follow her guidance, and leadership.

She became more than a national hero. Aung San Suu Kyi became global example of peaceful resistance for human rights. President of the US officially stated that “She is my hero” in a statement to media, immediately after her release from house arrest.

Many outsiders may find difficult to understand the psyche of Burmese people. She is a daughter of national hero General Aung San. No sane person in Burma will say any bad thing about General Aung San but praises. I knew about General Aung San not from history books, but from my Grand Mother, and from my parents. On the 19^th July of every year, all Burmese people still remember their assassinated hero General Aung San. To make it short, her father General Aung San is known to all Burmese and ethnic groups of people. All of them have nothing to say about him but all about his sacrifice for the nation.

Being a daughter of such a towering character, she gets the trust of all Burmese people from the day one of her political carrier. Now after more than two decades her status is elevated into a few of World’s respected leaders with great legacy such as Nelson Mandela, Dalai Lama, and Desmond Tu Tu.

I believe Burma will rise up again under her leadership to prosperity. Burmese people will enjoy the human rights similar to the people of other countries who respect human rights. Burma, famous for poverty and brutal military leaders, is also well known for her democracy icon, and many unsung heroes who sacrificed their lives and who served long term jail sentence.

Please tell me who is your leader?

I can shout loud of her name and immediately everyone know who she is. For that I am proud to be a Burmese.

I am proud to be a Burmese because Burmese people whose eyes and mouth were tightly closed for generations still have courage to support for the truth.

I am proud to be a Burmese because all of us are united behind one leader for our rights in peaceful revolution.

I am proud to be a Burmese because deep inside my heart I am fully aware of the fact that all peace loving, sincere people of global village have great respect on Burmese people.

Sit Mone

Yangon, Myanmar (CNN) — It was stifling hot inside the small, stark headquarters of the National League for Democracy, the party led by freed pro-democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi.

Suu Kyi wore her trademark shirt and a Burmese sarong known as a lyongi, her hair adorned with the flowers that have come to symbolize defiance in her homeland that has been under tyrannical military rule since 1962.

On this day, she also wore a red AIDS ribbon. She had visited patients at an AIDS clinic in Yangon, the former capital of Myanmar that was known as Rangoon. Lack of treatment for HIV sufferers remains an unspoken problem in the authoritarian South Asian country.

A new role for Aung San Suu Kyi?

Suu Kyi has been free for almost a week after spending 15 of the past 21 years in detention.

read more at CNN News

Daw Suu and Kyaw Thu ( Source Kyaw Thu Face Book)

I wrote about two famous actors of Burma in a previous post. While Kyaw Thu was lauded by his fans for sacrificing for the cause that he believes, Lwin Moe, who is also a famous actor, defiantly proclaimed that he is the supporter of Junta backed party USDP. Even, he boasted that the election was free and fair!

Well.. everyone have the right to believe whatever they want to, but at the same time, not knowing the fundamental rights and plight of their own people is not an excuse to be forgiven. I think Burmese artists are in the stage of dilemma when comes to politics.

Military junta punished pro democracy artists quite harshly. Long jail sentence to Zarganar was a good reminder for all. Prolonged jail sentence of Zarganar was a chilling message from the junta to the rest that if they decide to side with pro democracy movement, they must pay dearly.

Not allowing performance in movies or videos is the minimum penalty, but person like Kyaw Thu took the risk by carry on helping the poor and sick to live with dignity and also give the same treatment to the dead. That is not politics, just a social service that any sane government should see in positive way, but in Burma, the rulers see these kinds of people as “threat” for their survival.

Recently Junta backed movie director Tin Than Oo, admitted he was forced to produce a movie with distorted history for propaganda purpose of Junta before election. Ailing with heart problem, Tin Than Oo directed the movie known as “The Lotus that blossom at dawn “in Burmese. Distortion  of Historical facts  were so obvious  that Burmese living in exile boycotted the actors and actress  of the movie,when they arrive to the US for live performance. Tin Than Oo, admitted mistakes in his movie in an interview with Mizzima news ,a few months before he passed away. He said he took the responsibility for his movie.

I feel sorry for Tin Than Oo, who was a good writer among army officers, but he left his legacy as a person who distorted the true history of democratic evolution of Burma.

In Burma, influence of artists in daily life of people is far greater than their counterparts in  its neighbors, as poor Burmese people rely only on local entertainment industry to overcome the stress under military boots. That is the reason the military rulers keep on monitoring the acts of movie stars.

Reward for supporting military junta is huge such as allowing them to run the FM radio stations, business opportunities with junta cronies, to tax exemption. They can buy properties with discount price all depend on how well connected the artist with the ruling elites.

To become a famous artist is not easy in Burma same as everywhere on the earth. Once the star become famous his responsibility to the society become part of history and legacy.To avoid the tragic legacy of talented people who went astray earlier, they should listen to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s advice to involve and sacrifice on the thorny road to democracy in Burma.

Sit Mone

In a recent interview with India based Burmese news portal “ Mizzima”, Suu Kyi has  said support of people of India is crucial for democratic revolution and  national reconciliation of Burma. She believes in Gandhi’s non violent movement that laid the strong foundation of Democracy in India.

She pointed out India  diverse nature of  people with different races and religions, survived on the platform of democracy finally leading to prosperity.

In another interview with Irrawaddy News portal based in Thailand, she even referred Gandhi’s favorite song “ Lead kindly light” . She believes that non violent, peaceful resistance may be painful and will take long time but finally the truth will prevail.

It seemed that she understands well about the political dynamics of two neighbors of Burma, India and China. While Chinese Government policy towards Burma is within the hands of few leading Politburo members, Indian government needs to listen to its people before deciding to change in its foreign policy.

She requested all Burmese to spread the news of pro democracy movement unfolding in the country to the people of India, as she praised Indian Army never involves in party politics ever since Independence.

Sit Mone

Lwin Moe

Kyaw Thu

Both Lwin Moe and Kyaw Thu are Burmese celebrities. Both of them are and were actors, directors, and photographers. But Kyaw Thu is no more in entertainment industry of Burma, as his movies were banned by Military Junta for last three years.

If you look at my old post ( in Burmese) you will notice that I prefer Lwin Moe as an actor. The reason is he looks sincere in Movies, and people said about good moral, such as showing kindness , sympathy and understanding to fellow supporting actors who were with him in his Movies.( But now I do not think that he is a sincere person anymore!) The famous four comedians, namely King kong, Phoe Phyu, Ayine and Nga Pyaw Kyaw were always seen with him and lively comedy movies that always make me relax. These four comedians also known as Four Ghosts were close with detained activist cum actor, director and Comedian Zarganar.

Kyaw Thu is senior to Lwin Moe as his acting carrier started much earlier than latter. His movies were more serious and influenced by U Thu Kha , late famous director of Burma. Influence of Buddhism was seen in his last movies before he was forced to leave the Movie industry by Junta. One of the main reasons of his departure was being an active supporter of pro democracy movement, and actively involved in humanitarian assistance to Cyclone Nargis victims a few years ago. Once he was blocked from acting and directing movies, he started a foundation to help those who were dire in need, HIV AIDs patients, funeral and burial service and even running clinics for the poor.

In normal circumstances we do not need to compare both of them as I am not the right person to judge who is better than who in their field of Movie making, and acting. But, now I feel that as a Burmese who supported both of them in their carriers, I have a right to criticize both of them from socio-political aspect as both of them involved in Burmese politics.

Lwin Moe, allegedly supported Junta backed USDP party which won in landslide in recent election of Burma. However 2010, November 7 election was regarded as “illegitimate” by most of the developed and developing countries excluding China and few ASEAN countries.

Lwin Moe claimed that the election was free and fair, and does not rule out the fact that one day he himself may become one of the candidates. Lwin Moe’s fans were frustrated. Some said that he was merely exercising his rights as a Burmese citizen. Democracy is after all, about person’s freedom of choice to vote whoever he wanted to be as MP.

At the same time, Kyaw Thu, who was busy doing charity funeral service, was under surveillance of Military Intelligence. There were few occasions that Kyaw Thu’s fans received the false alarm, informing he was arrested. He wrote poems that were published over online portals. He had arts exhibition, his thought transformed into paintings and sculptures. Recently he presented his painting to Aung San Suu Kyi, which the lady accepted with respect. He was among the few people, Aung San Suu Kyi met immediately after her release as Kyaw Thu helped funeral service of NLD senior member, U Lwin’s wife.

Now, what do I think of both of them. It reflects deep division of opinion among Burmese people. Selfless sacrifice of Kyaw Thu is praised by many of us while we all frowned upon Lwin Moe’s choice of support. I was surprised when Lwin Moe likened himself with Arnold, who turned into Republican Governor from Hollywood action movie star.

To be fair to both of them, Burmese politics is in stagnation for more than 20 years. While Kyaw Thu, who is older than Lwin Moe is willing to sacrifice more for the true cause that he believes, Lwin Moe reaction seemed to be representation of frustration of the younger generation. Local news said, Lwin Moe has more interest on business ties with Junta cronies.

There are many more people similar to Kyaw Thu and Lwin Moe, among 55 million Burmese people. Educated or uneducated, poor or wealthy, almost all suffers due to Military dictatorship and also due to selfishness of some of the so called prodemocracy group, who took charge of leading role but done nothing, waiting Aung San Suu Kyi to do miracles for Burma.

Burmese people have done beyond expectation; Aung San Suu Kyi even though released from house arrest is in reality, just moving from smaller confinement to a bigger confinement. Exclusion of Military Generals from political arena is irrelevant to current political climate of Burma.

Rather than calling second Pin Lone conference which is almost impossible to allow by the Generals, Aung San Suu Kyi should give reassurance to Generals that she is not a threat to them. Who is going to give up the holy power when they are on firmed grip to the country for several decades with fear factor and strong army? Do we want to see more innocent lives lost, or our leaders detained again for another few decades? Or do we want to see Aung San Suu Kyi , rearrested or even assassinated,? Then we all will be left with deep division among us without a great leader.

Those who rule the country with guns will happily enjoying the luxury of this life while millions of  Burmese people will be ended up in a society with the people comprising of many Lwin Moes and few Kyaw Thus, without hope for democracy.

Sit Mone

According to the latest global surveys, Burma is one of the poorest and most corrupt countries on this planet earth. At the same time Burma, known as Myanmar, is one of the most famous countries of this world for the reason that the resource rich country with very tolerant people was subject to abuse of world’s most brutal regime. Burma is also famous because of her prodemocracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel laurite, who was just released from never ending sentence of house arrest during last 20 years.

During a last couple of days, her name became headlines of media again, as she was released from House arrest. She became a national icon and some likened her, as a beacon of hope for Burmese people.

Why ?

She is the leader of few Burmese who dare to touch the untouchable; Military rulers of Burma. Perhaps it is difficult for the outsiders, to understand the weird atmosphere created by Military Junta, who elevated themselves into super elite group of Burma at gun point to its people for five decades. Burmese people have done their duty when there was a chance to rise up against the tyrants, but almost all events ended in tragic ways.

“Our Army shoot to kill people, we will not raise the barrels of guns to sky” was the chilling reminder to Burmese people by late dictator Ne Win, just before the popular, 1988 uprising. Estimated 3000 people lost their lives during brutal suppression by Burmese Army; thousands more disappeared without news until now.

Aung San Su Kyi famous words “Freedom from fear” is meant for Burmese people who were living with fear for generations. It does not mean that Burmese people have less courage, but the true fact is “ Fear Factor” in Burma is too much to titrate with courage of normal people, unless they have a leader who is without fear.

Aung San Suu Kyi,who is  a daughter of National Hero General Aung San, was born to be a leader without fear. Her father’s  love and sacrifice for the country is still very much alive and active with- in the blood of determined soft spoken lady.

She is well aware of her risk, but chose the peaceful way to bipartisanship with Military Junta. She said she is looking for national reconciliation, easy to understand for all of us who love nothing but peace.

But, Burmese Military has metamorphosed from dictator to the level of  super Monster dictators who could approve a referendum of a constitution that approve Military Dictatorship forever , while 200,000 people died because of Cyclone Nargis that left millions of people homeless.

Person like Zarganar was sentenced to several decades in Jail, just for merely helping Cyclone affected people. Zaragnar is a well-known actor, director in entertainment sector of Burma. How about more than 2000 political prisoners who were not known to us? They have suffered in isolated jails of Burma, while family members were quietly suffering and facing financial woes to family disintegration.

For the Generals and their cronies, life is too good with the billion dollar income from oil and gas, quietly siphoned into their pockets during past two decades. They got what they wanted, living in luxury in the world poorest country. They try to stay in power forever by using whatever means they have. They spent billions of US Dollars to build the tunnels in their new capital Nay Pyi Taw. The name of the new capital itself explained that Generals do not think themselves as soldiers anymore, because the name Nay Pyi Taw in Burmese, means capital of the king. Once a group of soldiers with weapons started to thinking like Burmese Kings, who were traditionally accepted as owner of a person’s body and soul( absolute monarchy), they will never feel guilty for the whatever atrocities they have done to ordinary people of Burma! These acts , they will assume as  their rights. Soothsayers and fortune tellers would be always around them to justify and satisfy their acts by blaming fate of poor people.

The Lady, who is western educated, brought up among intellectuals of Oxford never fail to understand the psyche  of the rulers and people of her poor motherland,  where the path has derailed from her father’s vision of  USA of Southeast Asia.

By touching the untouchable of Burma, she believes that she can bring democracy to Burma. By engaging in peaceful manner, she believes that she can unite the people of Union of Burma to reconcile. But her road ahead is fill with pitfalls and traps, and she is ready to face all these challenges with “ Freedom from Fear” that she believes.

Sit Mone

( Dedicated to my hero Daw Aung San Suu Kyi)

Discrimination is an allergic word to me. I do not like discrimination and I want other people to be free from discrimination. Race, religion, skin colour, culture, is the value that we should handle with sensitivity and sincerity.

All of us should not forget the fact that we all are writing our own history and legacy in this blogosphere.

To make it short, because of discrimination I have abandon my weblog.

I started writing a religious blog about my faith. I have peace of mind and satisfaction in writing something about love and humanity.

But, producing a faith related post is not easy as writing something here. So I return to my old blog to write something not going to make my serene heart frustrated.

I would recommend Burmese readers of this blog to do few things,

1. To watch movie “Avatar”
2. To watch movie “ District 9”
3. To read latest issue of Shwe Amyu Tay at www.shweamyutay.com, look for  articles written by Nay Zin Lat and Thu Maung

I hope you will find tranquility and serenity.

Sit Mone

စာညြန္း
သုခသုေမာင္စာေပတိုက္ပြဲ (သုေမာင္)
တခ်ိဳ႕ကားရွင္ဖို႕စားၾကသည္ (ေနဇင္လတ္)
ေရႊအျမဳေတ ဇန္နဝါရီ ၂၀၁၀